Homeowner catches Obama sign thief

Round Rock, Texas (KXAN) - For the past week, Doug McLean said his President Obama signs in his Round Rock neighborhood were vanishing, so he sat in the bushes waiting to find the culprit.

McLean is a big supporter of the President and bought election signs to give to his neighbors to place outside.

"These signs I paid for, I own these signs," said McLean.

McLean said enough was enough after several signs had been taken, so he grabbed his camera and phone and waited outside in the bushes Wednesday evening.

After 20 minutes, he got what the answer to his question. A man walked up and took the sign, that is when McLean jumped out with his camera and called 9-1-1.

The man who was taking the signs was Jason Kolbe. Kolbe lives in the neighborhood and admits to taking the signs but claims he didn't realize what he was doing was wrong.

Kolbe said he believes McLean was in the wrong because he was breaking HOA rules. 

"Political signs may be posted no more then 30 days prior to the election [according to their HOA]," Kolbe said.

Kolbe admitted he shouldn't have taken the signs and should have called the HOA instead. Kolbe also said if it were Romney signs, he wouldn't have taken them.

A $50 trespassing citation was given to Kolbe by the Williamson Sheriff's Department.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, campaign signs may be posted as early as 90 days before an election (no earlier) and must be removed within 10 days after the election.

Signs can only be on private property with permission and may not be posted on trees, telephone poles, traffic signs and other objects on the right of way.